Community

5 Companies With Unique Social Missions: CapNY

Throughout CapNY, you’ll find all different kinds of innovative businesses that impact their communities in various ways. In this article, we’ll focus on five CapNY businesses which have unique social missions and play an important part to the wellbeing of this region and its people.

CapNY Community-centric Businesses

These 5 CapNY companies have integrated social missions and community commitment directly into their business plans. Their work supports and lifts the people around them, and their leaders are actively contributing to causes that reach far beyond the bottom line.

Collectiveffort is a co-working, media and marketing firm based in Troy. “We tell real stories and create spaces that actually help people,” says Patrick Harris Jr., President of Collectiveffort. This mission is woven through the organization: a “creative agency turned social enterprise.” Collectiveffort provides creatives and companies with projects, resources and community, including:

#DoSomething, bringing creatives together to share and connect.
CollectiveffortTV (CETV) features a range of co-hosts and spotlights independent artists, while providing donation information.
Coworking space that facilitates organic and fluid interaction. They offer 1-on-1 micromeetings and access to in-house media production equipment to their members.
Ongoing film project, “Let’s Talk About Life,” addressing the gap between local residents and organizations.

Collectiveffort’s influence extends beyond its walls. Their deep engagement with the local community helps them broker conversations with stakeholders about development’s impact, particularly the impact on communities of color. CE is committed to innovative, supportive strategies for creative and community growth.

Content Director DeSean Moore adds, “We also work with large companies, who really want to see Black business entrepreneurs succeed. Collectiveffort helps these businesses transition into the digital age.”

Collectiveffort has established a trusted voice at decision making tables. They cultivate their own physical and digital infrastructure. They show the region how creative self determination can translate into meaningful change.

Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen is a Korean restaurant, local family farm and immigrant resource powerhouse all in one.

The restaurant is located in downtown Troy and focuses on wholesome food, supplied in part by their farm located in Cambridge. Thankfully, it has introduced Capital Region diners to Korean cuisine and culture. Take out services, event catering and kimchi workshops provide opportunities for customer interaction and education.

Sunhee’s empowers local immigrant communities, individuals and families in many ways. Sunhee’s non-profit arm gives local immigrants access to services, including three levels of free English language classes and a laptop grant program. Owner Jinah Kim, who recently began attending law school, and plans on adding legal services to the mix.

The restaurant provides both employment and professional development. As Jinah explains, “We provide jobs… in a space that’s not only safe for immigrants but also a great training platform. It’s great for transition.” Her experience in refugee resettlement and immigrant services helps her understand the needs and wants of the immigrant community. Sunhee’s is a fantastic restaurant and critical resource hub, both inside and outside the immigrant community.

Root3d is a project borne out of deep love for community wholeness. The mission statement says it all: “Root3d is devoted to making wellness accessible for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Healing ourselves is our birthright and we all deserve safe space to heal.”

Program offerings include workshops, yoga, group therapy, therapeutic theater, reiki and sound healing. Co-Founders Jamel Mosely and Rachelle Pean opened their storefront in Albany’s South End. They chose to create an inclusive healing space in an area where many services are not readily available. This thoughtful approach has blossomed into Root3d’s collective atmosphere. Root3d’s healers and facilitators have found a welcoming home for their work within Root3d’s warm embrace. The space is an incubator for local BIPOC healers to develop their skills and move toward launching their own projects.

Root3d is a supportive starting point for residents beginning their own healing journeys. In response to Covid-19, the center has moved most of its sessions online. And, it has adopted an entirely “pay what you can if you can” model, ensuring attendee’s continued access to services. Root3d’s personal investment is palpable. Jamel says, “We are thankful for people who have continuously supported both our teachers and facilitators of healing, as well as our community.”

Hudson River Exchange “activates spaces to bring together creativity and commerce” within the larger Hudson Valley. The company offers its members — local makers of various disciplines — support and commercial visibility.

Established in 2013, HRE has morphed through a variety of formats over time, including its annual makers market, a brick-and-mortar retail and rental work space, and more recently, an online store. Co-Founder / Director Stella Yoon explains, “Our programming is inspired by listening to emerging needs. We’re always asking what [makers] need and how we can do this better.” To that end, the company recently developed an innovative micro-lending program. 2.5% of online sales go toward a makers’ microloan fund with another 2.5% matched by HRE, coming to a contribution total of 5%. Loan are offered to network participants with 0% interest rate. They plan to expand upon this model over time, while also trying to demystifying money for participants.

HRE enables and inspires makers to invest in their work. Members past and present have opened their own storefronts and opened makers markets in and around Hudson. Above all, HRE helped members feel that their creative vision can flourish wherever they go.

Rock Hill Bakehouse is dedicated to the art of hearth baked bread and plant based cuisine. Owner, President and General Manager Matt Funiciello explains, “our mission is to make real food for real people.”

The company’s recipes are inspired by early to mid 20th century European immigrant communities in New York City. Rock Hill’s understanding of bread’s historical socioeconomic significance translates to its organizational values as well. The bakery pays a sustainable living wage, and includes employees in decision making. Staff unanimously supported management when they proposed the creation of a free community bread rack. Now Rock Hill offers approximately 100 loaves per day for locals in need, Tuesday through Saturday, no questions asked.

Rock Hill has a newly veganized menu, collaborating with local produce farmers and up-and-coming restaurants. A crowd favorite is the vegan pizza, made with their handcrafted dough, fresh veggies and delicious dairy-free cheeses.

Rock Hill contribute to a wide array of fundraising efforts. They provide free bread to Capital Region soup kitchens, food pantries and animal sanctuaries. The Bakehouse is looking forward to reviving their full calendar of community events, including Glens F alls’ longest running open mic series, once conditions allow.

Rio Riera Arbogast is a freelance writer focused on how creative entrepreneurship impacts the Capital Region’s cultural landscape. You can follow them on Instagram and Twitter at @riorawrites.

5 Young Black Leaders: CapNY Influencers

Updated: July 2025

For these five up and coming black leaders, leadership is more than just leading a group or organization.

Each of them shows their love for the community in the work they do. Their stories showcase the beauty and outcomes that strong leadership provides.

Adaviah Ward, 26, is one of our young black leaders as a teacher at KIPP/ Albany Community Charter School. A native of the South End of Albany, she observed community problems like gun violence and drug use. These became powerful influences on her approach to leadership. She says, “These things made me want to impact change and do what I can for the young people in my area. I think Albany has endless good opportunities to offer.”

Adaviah’s love for young people led her to be a strong community leader. As a teacher she gets opportunities to impact her students. “My greatest accomplishment as a leader is being able to work with my students and watch them grow. I definitely pride myself in this each day,” she says.

She believes strong leadership starts with who you are as a person, because it’s important for people to be comfortable with you. Adaviah feels it’s important to show responsibility, accountability, and the ability to remain open minded to growth and guidance. Adaviah knows she exhibits these qualities when she leads, saying, “I am personal with my story. I am receptive and open to guidance. And I am consistently working to get better. I have the heart of a leader.”

Ignorance as an Opportunity for Growth

As a young black leader, Adaviah notices the assumptions that are made about the black community by people not of color. She says, “People who don’t look like us already having thoughts about us. They can be ignorant of our gifts and authentic selves.” But this doesn’t stop Adaviah; instead, it fuels her want to be better. She says, “When someone tells me I can’t, my goal is to prove them wrong. It becomes an opportunity for both of us. It teaches them not to label others and it helps me grow more into the leader I aspire to be.”

Adaviah’s inspirations comes from the community that she serves. She speaks on her family and how each of them play a huge role in her life: her mother’s strength, her father’s determination, her siblings’ encouragement, and her grandparents’/godmother’s religious support all helped shape her qualities as a leader. In addition to her family, Adaviah’s friends and coworkers keep her focused on her goal of continually making change in her community.

The next young black leader in this series is 19-year-old Deontae Guy. A full-time student at Ithaca College, Deontae is involved with the school’s student government, and he will be running for student body president. He also is a member of the public safety department and the information technology department. In addition to his involvement at school, Deontae is a licensed youth and young adult minister, preaching sermons to inspire congregations to live a Christian life.

Deontae genuinely loves to lead. The qualities that he believes are necessary are being vocal, staying true to yourself, and being committed to your goal. He says, “Commitment is key because as leaders we stand for something greater than ourselves.” His three brothers/mentors, Michael Poindexter, Randy Stith, and Liam Staley, all offer him their support, giving him advice in his spiritual leadership as a minister, and how to balance Christianity in daily life outside of church. It was with their help Deontae was able to grow into a stronger leader.

Learning To Be a Young Black Man in a Predominently White Society

Deontae’s environment also encouraged him to develop strong leadership skills. He was born in Albany but lives in the Clifton Park area. He says, “There [Clifton Park] I had to learn to be a young black man in a predominantly white society.” He faced some racial discrimination, especially by administration at the all-white high school he attended. But Deontae wasn’t letting those difficulties hold him back. He says, “While I couldn’t do things the way I wanted then, I could take the experience of people using my blackness against me and pour it into my leadership. I could help bring solutions to those problems.”

Deontae receives his motivation through God. “I’ve tried hanging in the back, but I don’t think I can get away from [leadership]. I think being a leader is just who I am. When God gives you the talent, you can’t run from it. Leading is what I’ve been called to do!”

Theresa Ford, 26, is a licensed master social worker located in the Capital Region. Additionally, she is working on becoming a doula, and is a healing jeweler. Born in Harlem, NY, and living in NYC most of her life, Theresa noticed a big difference between her hometown and the Capital Region. But her ability to lead is something she can do anywhere, and she has chosen to do so in the Albany area.

To Theresa, leadership is all about honoring safety in yourself and your community, being responsible and sustainable, and valuing what your community looks like. “I do that every day. Encouraging other people to share by creating those safe spaces,” she says.

Healing Herself And Others

Through her leadership, Theresa is able to heal not only herself but others, and that motivates her to keep going. In addition to healing, she encourages others to unite and lead in their own lives. She takes an active role in many young people’s lives. “I am supporting them while they heal. And this is changing the dynamics of their lives and their household. Their world is becoming more positive because of my work.”

Theresa gets a large amount of motivation from her family including her late grandmother. “Even though she isn’t physically here with me, I have a strong connection with my grandmother. I think it is important to connect with your elders especially when leading,” she says. Theresa also receives support and strength from her mother and coworkers. Theresa’s biggest leadership achievement was continuing to work and inspire through 2020 despite all the challenges that it presented. She says, “I worked the whole year as a therapist and a jeweler. I kept true to myself in a moment of adversity. I’m proud of myself for that.”

Ozymandias Mercy Morris Jr., 27, is a direct support member for the company Lexington Arc, where he supports people with disabilities. He also has a successful art platform on Instagram where he shares his music and love for positive mental wellness. All of these roles in Ozymandias’ life demand strong leadership skills. And Ozymandias definitely possess them!

Using Connections As Community

As a young black leader, Ozymandias builds connections with the people around him. “I’ve lived in Albany my whole life. I lived uptown and downtown; I’ve had friends from different hoods and suburbs. All of these environments gave me new perspectives as I navigated different communities and social systems. That is important to leadership.” He emphasizes learning from people around you, which can only happen when you’re actively seeking connections. “Being there for each other is necessary. Especially for the younger generation, because they need that guidance,” he says.

Ozymandias’ greatest accomplishment is the development of a music program for kids at the Albany Public Library. Impacting young lives for the better is extremely rewarding for him. He says, “Leadership is being able to produce, connect and inspire. I was able to inspire and connect with the kids over my music program. I am happy I was able to do that for them.”

Having integrity. Using really good listening skills. Knowing how to problem solve in a group effectively. Being confident in yourself and your team. Staying loyal to the groups you lead. These are some of the qualities that make good leadership in the eyes of 22-year-old Arielle V. King.

Arielle is a law student located in the DMV area in Washington DC. Her main focus is her environmental justice career path, which will help her advocate for cleaner and healthier communities. She also pushes herself to make other impacts, too. She helped found the club E.L .E.V.A.T.E 518, an all-female club in the Capital Region that is designed to bring women together and bring more visibility to political issues that concern them.

Strong Role Models in the South End

Growing up in the South End of Albany, Arielle always had strong leaders to look up to. She says, “I felt so loved and supported growing up because of the networks I’ve made. Seeing people that look like you in roles that you want is so empowering.” Among the people she admired growing up is her mother, who continues to inspiration Arielle in how she leads today. She also receives support from other black leaders in Albany as well as black women in her career field. She says, “There have been so many men and women who have supported me. They know who they are, and I am grateful for each of them.”

Though Arielle is doing various forms of leadership in her life right now, she believes the biggest accomplishment she made was during elementary school. She says, “In the winter during fourth grade I noticed other kids walking to school without a hat or scarfs. I knew that wasn’t right, and I went to my mom to figure out how I could help.” Arielle began raising awareness of the issue and asking her community to donate winter gear so that she could distribute it to schools for kids who need them. Her initiative provided hundreds of children with coats and winter gear. This coat drive is something that the Capital Region is still doing today. She says, “I think my greatest achievement is still yet to come, but being able to make an impact at such a young age was really amazing!”

This is just a peek into the lives of these young black leaders as they continue their work to making the world a better place.

albany Black Leaders Community

5 Great Resources for People with Disabilities: CapNY Discovering Ability

Effy Redman reflects on life and resources for people with disabilities.

“On and off through my adult life, I have lived, worked, and spent time in New York City, where the sense of anonymity can be intoxicating. I’ve always returned to the Capital Region, where I have family and roots dating back to high school. Now I’m approaching middle age, in deeper touch with my vulnerabilities (and strengths) as a person with disabilities.”

Resources for People with Disabilities

There are diverse resources available to people with disabilities living in the Capital Region. From services to support and creative expression, Effy Redman explores some favorite resources for people with disabilities.

Effy writes, “I understand that people recognizing you as you walk down the street is not necessarily a bad thing. People in my upstate community have more time to spare, whether for a chat about the weather or personal revelations over cups of tea.”

Reading for a Brighter Tomorrow

Saratoga Springs Public Library is wheelchair-accessible and has a large-print books section. They offer Outreach Services for individuals with disabilities who are homebound. There are online English language learning classes and adult basic literacy classes available. I have spent many hours wandering the SSPL stacks or writing in their study rooms. Disability-related titles on offer include Overcoming Dyslexia, Accessible America: a History of Disability and Design, and From the Periphery: Real-Life Stories of Disability. All lending materials, services, and activities are free of charge.

Ageless in Saratoga

Author, licensed acupuncturist, energy healer, and wellness educator Bridgette Shea offers a variety of therapeutic services at Ageless Acupuncture, including acupuncture and Chinese medicine. She has written two books drawing from her experience–Handbook of Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda and Cultivating Your Microbiome.

From my Chinese medicine appointments with her, I remember Bridgette’s gravitas and compassion. She has a background in ancient healing wisdom rooted in the study of dreams. She brings an individualistic perspective on health. “Perhaps the wisdom to live with optimal health has been within us all along, it’s as unique to each of us as our fingerprint,” Bridgette writes in Cultivating Your Microbiome.

A Touch of the Sacred at One Roof

One Roof was founded in a Victorian house in downtown Saratoga Springs by visionary psychotherapist Dr. Selma Nemer. This holistic health center offers integrative medicine and nutrition, meditation, psychotherapy, a stress reduction program, and more. The setting is serene, supporting deep reflection and healing. One Roof evolved over fifteen years, with the goal of uniting practitioners who wanted to work together. “Healing work can be very enlivening,” Nemer said. “It can also be exhausting and lonely.”

Driving past 58 Henry Street, she found the run down house whose loving restoration she would oversee. Its interior aesthetics reflect the comforting beauty of her vision, the opposite of clinical. Nemer said, “I just always wanted a healing center that felt like home.”

I left my shoes at the front door and padded across bright antique rugs. I sank into a velvet-upholstered chair. I was comforted by the sense of sanctuary. One Roof cross-references clients to related services in the Capital Region whenever appropriate. “Our mission is to be respectful and healing to anyone who crosses our threshold,” Nemer says. There’s an intentional, sacred feeling at One Roof. The price range for services is moderate. The Saratoga Stress Reduction Program and some psychologists/psychotherapists here accept insurance plans. Others offer sliding fee scales. You’ll find more info here.

Freedom by Bus

Among the crucial resources for people with disabilities is accessible, reliable transportation. Committed to sustainability and affordable, accessible transportation, the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) serve Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, and Rensselaer/Troy.

Due to disability, I do not drive. I rely heavily on CDTA buses. I love the mobility and independence riding CDTA buses gives me. Bus exteriors are clearly marked with route numbers and destinations. Inside, riders can look to LED display signs announcing each stop. CDTA’s STAR Program is a special transit program. It’s made available by request to individuals whose disabilities or impairments significantly limit their ability to ride buses on fixed routes. STAR Program operates within a ¾ mile radius of regularly routed buses. For bus riders who need assistance with navigation, trip planning, etc., CDTA offers Travel Training. This is one-on-one support and training for the initial transit experience and onward.

Capital Region Expressive Arts Transformation and Empowerment (C.R.E.A.T.E.)

C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios is a 501 c(3) non-profit with spaces in Saratoga and Schenectady. C.R.E.A.T.E.’s mission is to make the expressive arts available to all community members. Process rather than product is the focus.

Executive Director Heather Hutchison (MA, ATR-BC, LCAT) along with art therapists and art educators founded CR.E.A.T.E. to fill the absence of expressive arts in the region. “Historically,” Hutchison writes, “the arts have always been at the forefront of social change.”

Hutchison points out that people at protests often use visual art to demonstrate how they feel about issues. “We pride ourselves on being a safe space,” Hutchison says. “And [we] hear.. time and again from our attendees that when they come to CR.E.A.T.E., they feel accepted for who they are.” One goal is to make the arts widely accessible, particularly to marginalized communities.

The C.R.E.A.T.E. organization offers open-minds and empathy. Through C.R.E.A.T.E., people can tell their stories and be heard. Hutchison with Program Director Aili Lopez (LMHC, ATR) shaped the vision almost a decade ago. “We have a shared vision of believing in the intrinsic healing powers of art and creativity,” Hutchison writes. CR.E.A.T.E. has evolved through their expansion of offerings for people with and without disabilities. including open studio time and groups.

C.R.E.A.T.E in Action

C.R.E.A.T.E.has participated in community public arts projects in Schenectady. CR.E.A.T.E. Saratoga shares a space with Living Resources Arts in the thriving Beekman Street Arts District. Many programs are available online. To offer “sources of strength and hopefulness” early in the pandemic, CR.E.A.T.E. started a free YouTube series showing projects people could try at home. They also distributed art materials to community partners. Artists and community members were created lawn signs bearing hopeful art and messages. These were installed around Schenectady and Saratoga. “Making art together intrinsically gives us a sense of community and purpose which, in turn, combats feelings of isolation and depression,” Hutchison writes.

“And that’s not even getting into the neuroscience of how the expressive arts create new neuropathways in the brain, raise dopamine levels, and more.” Hutchison writes: “Playing with art materials is how we figure out how to do many things as toddlers and preschoolers. Art is deeply rooted in how we experience ourselves in the world around us. [During the pandemic] we’ve allowed ourselves to play again. This taps into that non-verbal part of ourselves and allows for healing. When we are able to make art collectively and safely, that will bring us back together as a community.” Classes, workshops, and events at CR.E.A.T.E. are either low-cost or free of charge.

Effy Redman is a memoirist, educator, and disability advocate living in Ballston Spa, NY. She has published work in the New York Times, Vice, Ravishly, and Chronogram, among other places. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from CUNY Hunter College. Follow Effy on Twitter: @effyredman.

Community Disabilities Resources

Jade Warrick “TrashKid”: CapNY Freelancer & Activist

Jade Warrick is a powerhouse artist and freelancer. Known in the art world as “TrashKid.” Jade is not only a CapNY icon because of her creative graphic design & energetic spirit, but because of her active voice in the communities she’s a part of and her passion for making art accessible for everybody.

We sat down with Jade Warrick “TrashKid” to ask her what she’s been up to during the COVID-19 crisis and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Business has been decent for me. I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of marketing and graphic design work and I’m enjoying that. A lot of people are getting businesses off the ground and working on things they never had the time to before. I’ve been working with a few podcasters, Didi Delgado being one. At the same time I’ve also done some commission work with Healing While Black, LLC, an amazing black voice. I’ve been wanting to do more TrashKid stuff – doing more comics and drawings – but it has taken a backseat due to the commission work.

I have some side projects going on. I’m working on building a website that helps promote the work of people of color. I’m also working on a COVID-19 graphic novel with Noelle Gentile, a local actor and children’s author. The book is geared toward youth — it talks about what the pandemic means, missing your friends, etc. It’s a living document. With new information and events taking place all the time, it keeps changing. We’re hoping to release that in mid-June.

I’ve been wanting to build this website for a while, but never had the time until now. I want to give my friends and creatives – especially those who aren’t very good at marketing or don’t have a website — a place where people can see their art and contact them if they’re interested in commissioning them for work. This is a resource for all people, but the idea is to promote artists of color. It’s a place where people can find under-looked black artists and support their business. The logo will consist of a pigeon. Pigeons are looked down upon and seen as gross, but they’re very smart birds. I think it’s an interesting reflection of how people see urbanized black culture.

I’m working on mural at YouthFX in downtown Albany. I’m also going to be working with Albany Barn, Albany Center Gallery, D. Colin, and others to encourage our black youth to paint murals downtown. Youth are going through a lot right now, not only the protests, but there is still a pandemic going on. People are still struggling and unemployed and kids aren’t going back to school. Kids are angry about a lot. I would’ve been a stronger artist if I had been around more art and art making. My parents were too busy raising their kids and trying to get by so I never really got the opportunity.

The world is really negative right now. I’ve been trying to help as much as I can and help people feel less alone. I’ve found positivity through connecting with my community – getting in touch with people who feel the same way as me. If you reach out, many organizations will welcome you in with open arms and provide you resources to join workgroups.

Gabby is a brand strategist, entrepreneur, real estate investor, matchmaker, & hypewoman. She is also the Lead Consultant on the CapNY Brand Initiative. She lives in Schenectady with her poodle Mochi and 60+ houseplants. Check out her website!

Artist Community Freelancer

Top Picks in Downtown Troy: CapNY Freelancer, Corey Aldrich

“One of the things that attracts me to Troy the most is the diversity of culture, thought, gender and generally, the open-minded vibe I get hanging out downtown. The diversity spans socio-economic and age demographics. This is seen in many of the downtown residents and also the city government.”

Choosing favorites or top picks in downtown Troy makes for a very long list. Downtown Troy is a great combination of small and medium independent, entrepreneurial businesses and has strong arts and creative destinations. Troy arguably has the most robust farmers market in the region, having been in operation for over 20 years. The market attracts tens of thousands of attendees per year to the downtown area.

Similarly, downtown businesses have strong identities, not just programmatically and aesthetically, but also in the groups of people that they attract. They form cultural micro-climates to borrow a landscape architecture term. The architecture and rich industrial and cultural history of Troy are a significant player in the experience you have here.

As a creative freelance professional, this environment is supportive and stimulating. In a simple trip for morning coffee its possible to run into musicians, PHD students, architects, film people, gaming programmers, coders, makers, fashion designers, stylists, photographers, engineers, lawyers, poets, philosophers, producers, urban farmers, historic preservation professionals, professors and retirees…the list goes on.

It’s not uncommon to see film crews from independent and major studios here from all over the country, including HBO filming ‘The Gilded Age‘. Troy is a current darling in that way and is increasingly providing quality freelance work for people in our region. In addition, there are 2 important college campuses downtown. RPI and SAGE College help contribute to an intellectually stimulating scene.

Like many well-designed older cities, it’s walkable. Just park your car and enjoy strolling the various blocks to get to all the rich opportunities and experiences.

For the long term, my fear is that we will jump the shark and allow development that will gentrify our city overmuch. I am hoping that we can hold the beautiful balance we currently have. The new development interest can spread out from the city center into contiguous neighborhoods. By sharing investment dollars further across the Troy region, we can sustain the rich diversity that we hold so dear. The positive impact would reach a greater number of citizens, increasing the value of the city as a relocation destination. There are so many great qualities to feature, here are a few of my top picks in downtown Troy. It’s a day in the life of a downtown Trojan.

Best Date Spot

The Lucas Confectionary

Best Art Hangout

Troy Night Out Exhibition Openings at the Arts Center of the Capital Region (Shameless plug: ARTS BAR!)

Favorite Bartenders

Amanda at Nighthawks

Most Interactive Social Spaces

Bard and Baker over 750 board games!

Ryan’s Wake (Locals Happy Hour Hang), Sunhees Farm and Kitchen, Troy Music Hall and Rare Form Brewing. Don’t miss The Hill at Muza. Muza is not downtown but is walkable in the summer and worth the trip!

Corey Aldrich currently lives and works out of Troy. Aldrich has an experiential design and events company called 2440 Design Studio.

Community Freelancer Troy

Karina Wojnar of Albany Center Gallery: CapNY Creative

Karina Wojnar is the Development & Membership Manager at Albany Center Gallery. In this position, she fills her time writing grants, planning programming, increasing community outreach efforts, and working with ACG members.

She wants our readers to know her as a daughter, a sister, and friend – someone who prioritizes amplifying the voices of the unheard in the CapNY community. She’s a creative millennial powerhouse.

I am originally from Northern NJ, a small lake town called Ringwood. Currently I live in Albany! I went to Siena College and loved the area, so I decided to stay after graduation. Why? The people. The energy of the people. The architecture. The quirks. The random cobblestone streets and historical buildings. Running into people you know in cafes and farmer’s markets. The fact that there are people dedicated to community and positive change. How active people are in politics, human rights, and deeper conversations.

I’m lucky. My parents value art as essential, so it was always my path to be in the creative field. I grew up dancing, participating in theater, writing, reading, and prioritizing art classes. I applied to colleges with the intention of getting a business degree with a focus in the arts. Throughout my time at Siena College, I fell in love with social justice and the overlap between humanity and art.

Human beings use art to emote, to share facts, to evoke, to connect with one another. I believe art to be how humans use their VOICE. Everyone has a voice and a different way of expressing it, whether through music, visual art, performance, writing, fashion, etc. We all deserve to be heard.

In a prior conversation between the two of us, you mentioned you feel like you haven’t necessarily found your creative voice yet. Can you talk a little bit about that? I feel that many people can relate.

I’m still experimenting. For the past couple years, I’ve been combining complementary colors and mixing embroidery into paintings. I’m still learning and figuring out technique. People say that once you can become decent at replicating a piece or style of yours over and over– you’ve found your voice.

I’ve been reading “Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic” by Lisa Congdon. It’s been encouraging and affirming to know that my voice matters and it’s all a part of the process. This journey; experimenting, actively listening to my fellow creatives, research…it will all shape my voice, my art, and my life.

In one word…inspiring. Communication and dialogue with fellow creatives is so important. We inspire each other, help each other out, lift each other up. It’s been rewarding. Working with the local arts community is the reason I want to stay in the area.

Don’t be afraid to put yourself and your art out there. Your voice matters. Black Lives Matter. Black Art Matters.

Gabby is a brand strategist, entrepreneur, real estate investor, matchmaker, & hypewoman. She is also the Lead Consultant on the CapNY Brand Initiative. She lives in Schenectady with her poodle Mochi and 60+ houseplants. Check out her website!

Art Community Creatives Yoga

CapNY Insider Tips: King Bakery Donut Cart

Set your clock early on a Sunday and head out a road trip to get donuts in scenic, rural Washington County.

The King Bakery Donut Cart is a family-run business open only on Sunday mornings. Some of their customers drive as long as 2.5 hours to wait on line to get a taste!

Family Owned & Operated

King Bakery Donut Cart menu board features Deathwish coffee cream to maple bacon flavors, and their best-selling glazed donuts. On Sundays, people from near and far form lines up the driveway leading up to an old-fashioned cart that sits in front of the King family home.

“My father thought no one would come to our house to buy donuts,” said James “Skip” King with a smile as he sat on his porch. His father started the family’s original bakery in Cambridge in 1956 and when the space closed, the King family moved the operation to their home.

From Their Farm to Your Donut

Holly King is the third-generation of the King family to have a role in this sweet business. King told us how the menu offerings are heavily influenced by what they’re able to produce on their small property.

“My father is an avid beekeeper, so honey is used as a sugar in many of our fillings and toppings. We tap our own maple trees. 30 chickens reside here to provide enough eggs for our production. We also grow our own rhubarb, black and red currants and black caps. Growing our own ingredients allows us to subsidize our product with high quality ingredients without the influence of the high purchase price.”

You can also find Reggie’s Veggies of Greenwich selling produce in another cart in the King’s driveway. “We like to collaborate and help people out,” said Skip.

The Kings, who all have other jobs during the week, have no interest in expanding their operation.

The King Bakery Donut Cart is popular during Saratoga’s track season, for summer road trips, and during foliage season. So set your alarm, hop in line, and get tasting on some of this local homemade goodness.

Note: They accept cash only! Their menu is posted on Facebook weekly.

Connect with King Donut Cart

Danielle Sanzone is a freelance writer who worked for a decade at The Record in Troy and is currently in the Digital Initiatives department at the local PBS, WMHT.

Community Donuts Sunday

CapNY Coworking Spaces: Urban Co-Works in Schenectady

Since popping up as one of CapNY’s first coworking spaces, Urban Co-Works has become a second home for lots of local professionals who choose to make this downtown office the hub for their hustle.

Urban Co-Works in Schenectady is at the corner of quaint, little Jay Street and the city’s busy main corridor, State Street. This fourth-floor space features grand views of the downtown district. There’s a large conference room overlooking the historic Proctors Theatre marquee. And, this spacious, open office has character — namely a friendly life-size skeleton called Skully that greets visitors upon arrival.

Inside, there are chances to meet real live humans as well. “We love the open concept and the ability for people to mingle, get to know each other, do business with each other,” Urban Co-Works CEO Jeff Goronkin said.

Members can choose their desired level of social interaction. Options include solo desks and large community-style tables, to cozy lounge chairs or soundproof phone booths for privacy. Private offices, like the one with a giant reminder to “Be Awesome Today,” are available, too.

Throughout Urban Co-Works, the atmosphere is calm, clean and super quiet. Lively networking opportunities are periodically scheduled at the on-site event space. For example, Schenectady-based gaming company, Gaming Insomniacs, hosts its eSports league here on a regular basis for some serious gaming fun.

Membership is diverse and eclectic. Coworking professionals may include tech, banking, health care, medical innovation, mental health services, or sustainability consultants. Others work in affordable energy, business and product innovations, and Guatemalan chocolate.

Coworking comes a wide range of perks. Community manager Kristen Guastella says, “We try to provide as much as we can to members, of course, other than just the Wi-Fi and the comfortable chairs.”

At Urban Co-Works, you’ll get 24/7 key card entry, high speed (FIOS) internet, printing, lockable storage, indoor bike storage, and restrooms. Plus, there’s a kitchenette and complimentary coffee, tea and water.

Memberships are scaled to your needs. Want a one day pass, 5 or 10 days per month flex memberships or private offices? All of these have access to use of a conference room with Bluetooth, television and video accessories. For those in need of private space, Urban Co-working offers affordable, fully furnished offices by the month. Offices accommodate up to 5 teammates, with a business address, and on-site office support plus all the basic benefits.

Urban Co-Works has plenty of nearby eateries to explore. There’s great take out or delivery all within walking distance. Grab breakfast or lunch at quirky coffee shop Ambition. Stop in for tea time at the Whistling Kettle. Or feast on a hearty Italian meal at Johnny’s . These are just a few spots on this adorable, pedestrian-only section of Jay Street.

Co-working Community Professionals

In the Heart of Cohoes: Harmony CoWorks

Set at the edge of the up-and-coming Cohoes Historic District, Harmony CoWorks is just steps from the shops and restaurants of downtown Cohoes.

Harmony Coworks is within walking distance of the majestic Cohoes Falls and nearby trails. And, it’s just steps from the shops and restaurants of downtown Cohoes. Harmony owner Rod Dion recommends checking out the new Cafe Monocle or local favorite sandwich shop Subs-ta-toot. Cohoes Music Hall, one of the oldest still-operating music venues in the nation, is just around the corner. In the summer, the city hosts its Rock the Block series, bringing entertainment right outside the door.

The fully renovated 3,500 square foot office space is located in a former bank building. iTech Valley Office Interiors has decked the place out with on-trend, top quality furnishings. The design is both aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically correct. (Harmony CoWorks and Tech Valley Office Interiors are both located at the Mohawk Street address. Both are owned by Dion.)

Harmony CoWorks offers inexpensive daily and monthly passes. You can choose dedicated desks and private offices. Plus, there is a kitchen space, meeting room and conference room available for use. Amenities include high speed wifi, 24-hour access, card door entry, mail and address service, printer service, and secure storage. The well-lit 50-car parking lot with security cameras makes commuting safe and easy.

Looking for space with fewer distractions than home? This beautifully designed professional setting would definitely improve my motivation and energy. Want to hunker down in solitude? Have a constructive meeting? Be social with others? There’s a comfortable place for all of these work styles at Harmony CoWorks.

In the future, Dion and the Harmony CoWorks team hope to host social events. Their goal is to establish and build a sense of community, once gathering becomes easier.

Harmony CoWorks is conveniently located off of I-787 at 50 Mohawk St. in Cohoes. Nearby you’ll find The Lofts at Harmony Mills, a residential community in the historic former Harmony Mills cotton mill complex.

CapNY native Lauren Halligan is a lifelong Saratoga County resident. She studied journalism at The College of Saint Rose in Albany. She has worked as a full time reporter for The Saratogian and The Record newspapers for the past seven years. Her favorite part of living in the Capital Region is frequenting the local live music venues. Lauren also enjoys exploring the many parks and nature trails within the area, as well as traveling around the globe.

Co-working Community Modern

CapNY Community Impact: Street Soldiers

The amazing spirit of CapNY’s generosity shines bright in Street Soldiers.

What started in 2016 as a small grassroots effort by founders Renee and Mike Fahey has grown into a tri-city initiative that helps hundreds of people every week.

On Thursdays in Troy, Fridays in Albany and Sundays in Schenectady, those who are struggling know that they can turn to Street Soldiers for a hot meal and much, much more. Anyone visiting a Street Soldiers event will find tables of essentials such as food, clothing, toiletries, appliances, pet supplies. Other donations are always available. It’s all based on genuine kindness – no questions asked, and no paperwork. “We don’t have any red tape,” Renee said. “If you need something, we’re there.”

With an extensive network of volunteers, donors and partnerships, they serve approximately 400 community members each week. In Albany, where the program first started they serve 100, another 100 in Troy, and up to 200 in the most recently established Schenectady site.

Renee has made a habit of helping those less fortunate than herself since childhood, through small acts like providing blankets or buying meals for people in need. She’s expanded that initiative to a much larger scale over the years.

Renee started Street Soldiers at a difficult time in her life. “It’s always kind of been in my heart, but when I lost my dad in 2016, I needed an outlet,” she shared. So, she and her husband Mike went out in Albany on a Friday night with a card table, some soup and sandwiches. “We met probably four or five guys that night,” she recalled. “After that, we went back the following Friday – same time, same location. Word of mouth just got out on the street. We kept going back, we saw the need. And we saw the appreciation that they had for us putting in our time to go out.”

Friends started getting involved after Renee posted on social media. Through their donations and volunteering Street Soldiers was born.

Over the past four years, the Albany program has grown from a couple of volunteers and one small table to 25 six-foot tables, set up by dozens of volunteers each week. To further fulfill needs in a neighboring city, in 2018 extended its reach to Troy. This operation grew in a similar manner, through word of mouth and assistance from lots of volunteers.

Under the direction of local resident Maura Furey, a third site was established in Schenectady in 2019. This has quickly become the largest volume location for the organization.

With sites now operating in the region’s three largest cities, each week Street Soldiers is making a difference in the lives of hundreds of people throughout the CapNY community.

Recently, I checked out Street Soldiers firsthand, and I was extremely impressed. Every week they hold an outdoor event, no matter the weather conditions. “We’re outside in the elements with them,” Renee said. “Rain, shine, blizzard. We’ve been out in it all.”

On a particularly cold afternoon I visited the Schenectady site. Though the temperature was below freezing, spirits were still high. Volunteers made sure that each individual in line had gloves or mittens, and even hand warmers if necessary. The Street Soldiers at this site kept everything operating smoothly. At a time when Covid-19 is of great concern, I felt entirely confident that this event was safe. Proper protocols are in place the whole time, no exceptions. When talking with some of the volunteers, even with masks on, it’s easy to see they truly care.

More than one Street Soldiers representative told me they look forward to this event all week. I suspect this has to do with the sense of community that Street Soldiers has created over the years. “Street Soldiers is like being part of a family, an extended family” Maura said. “It’s created a lot of lifelong friends.”

As a community, Street Soldiers has safely and successfully brought people together, spreading some goodness throughout CapNY, despite the pandemic. “Being on the street, being involved with volunteers, and meeting the people firsthand that you’re helping is such an incredible experience,” Maura said, “to not just know you’re making a change but to be there for the change.”

As the Faheys’ reach continues to grow, its mission remains simple: to lend a helping hand. “Nobody has ever gotten through life without help,” Renee said,. So, basically we are just there to do what we can when we can.” The organization is constantly seeking more helping hands to keep expanding the effort.

Age is no limit to volunteering. “We think it’s really important that kids are involved,” Renee said. “It teaches them empathy. It shows them that you shouldn’t be judgmental, and everybody needs help at some point in life, as a stepping stone.”

Each community location has its own Facebook page:

Albany / Troy / Schenectady

To learn more about volunteer opportunities or how to make donations, message the Facebook page of the community you would like to help. Not sure what to donate? Check out the Amazon Wishlist for each site!